The Door

Tom answered the door and Sarah was stood there her face a mess from crying even with her permanent makeup "Please, help me" she said. Tilly joined Tom at the door and watched as Sarah sank to her knees "I'm not even asking you to take me back, just help me put it right."

Tom sighed "I don't know, I don't know I can trust you any more. How do I know you wont just try and change us to be what you want us to be?"

"I know, I'll stay away from you just please help me."

Tom looked at Tilly and she had a serious look on her face but she nodded "Come in but keep your distance."

Snuffling, Sarah got off the floor and stepped inside and sat back in the chair she had vacated not long ago. She didn't look up until a cup of tea was placed in front of her. She looked up to see Tom's face and took some small comfort in that the look of hatred had softened a bit and he just looked stoic again though his face was puffy from recently shed tears. Tilly was already sat opposite her but she had her arms crossed and her head down clearly trying to avoid eye contact.

Tom gave Tilly her drink and sat down with her opposite Sarah. He didn't speak for a moment as he seemed to be assessing her. "Are you serious about this?" he said finally.

Sarah nodded and said a quiet "Yes."

"I can't promise this will begin to mend things between us, if you even want to."

Sarah's head snapped up "I do, I do want to. I still love you" she said desperately.

"And Jim?" he asked, now firmly planted in his stoic tone, not allowing his emotions to get in the way of whatever was happening here. A part of him hoped she could be saved but he was not about to let that part of him get a footing in his emotions. The pain of her betraying this life line of trust he was extending would be too much to bear if he allowed himself to hope.

Sarah hung her head again "I can't pretend I don't have feelings for him. I'm, I'm kind of obsessed with him. When I think about him I get excited and I can't wait to be in his arms." She paused, smiling slightly at the thought of him then it faded "When you called though I was really happy. There is nothing for me when he isn't around. I was hoping we could talk or maybe hang out for a bit, maybe go for lunch together. I missed you. I do miss you."

"And if I said you had to end it with him? That it would be the only way I would consider taking you back and helping you put this right?"

Sarah looked panicked "Are you saying that?"

Tom closed his eyes and rubbed his face "Regardless of how I feel about this if you want to put this right you are going to have to go against Jim's wishes and undo the things he has got you to do. I can't see him taking kindly to his little fuck pet saying no to him." He felt his anger rise but he bit it back down. "If you are serious about fixing this but want to stay with Jim I will help you for Tilly's sake and Phil and Jo's sake but bear in mind he might not want you any more if you become disobedient. If you want to try and mend things with him and you promise to try and be better I will help you but we are still done. Even if that means I have to be stuck like I am for the rest of my life I want you out of it. If you leave him, we can try and fix this together."

Sarah looked like she had been struck dumb. Tom would have ben lying if he said he hadn't hoped for her to give her reply straight away, denouncing Jim and pleading to be taken back. He knew it wouldn't be that simple but could dream.

Sarah mind was in a whirl. He was right, if she wanted to go on with Jim as things were now she would have to walk out and accept that she was not the person she had hoped she was. Jim wouldn't take kindly to her taking away his victories over Phil or his new play thing in Tilly. Would he hate her? Would he throw her out? She didn't know. She couldn't predict how he would behave. Her eyes flicked to a sad looking Tom. She knew that man sat across from her. She knew that whatever he said was true. He wasn't promising a magic fix or that it would all be okay. Despite the strength of her feelings for Jim she knew what she needed to do. It was going to be painful but she had to Let Jim go. He wasn't a good man, she always knew it and even slightly enjoyed it but she always thought of herself as a good woman and Jim was taking that away her.

"I want to try and make it better between us. I don't want to lose you."

Tom's heart leaped but he didn't dare let it get carried away. He still didn't trust her completely "Good, I'm happy you feel that way" he said still holding in his feelings and trying to be practical. "Now lets think about how we can fix this mess."